Powered personal mobility vehicle with rotating wheels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12187376-B2
Application number	US-202217947028-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2022
Priority date	Mar 27, 2012
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

An electric powered personal mobility vehicle that includes at least one front wheel and an electric motor that provides rotational force to a wheel of the vehicle. The electric motor is supported by the vehicle and is powered by a rechargeable battery that is also supported by the vehicle. The vehicle can also include swivel caster wheels each configured to rotate about a wheel axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motorized tricycle comprising:
a frame comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the motorized tricycle, the rear portion comprising a first leg and a second leg, each of the first and second legs extending outward from the longitudinal axis and terminating in a respective free end;
a seat connected with the frame, the seat adjacent to an intersection of the first and second legs and;
a front fork assembly connected with the frame, the front fork assembly comprising a first support, a second support, and a front wheel, the front wheel being positioned between the first and second supports;
a first rear wheel connected with the first leg and a second rear wheel connected with the second leg, each of the first and second rear wheels configured to rotate;
a motor operably configured to drive the front wheel;
a foot rest connected to the frame, the foot rest located between the seat and the front wheel;
a platform behind the seat and extending rearward from the intersection of the first and second legs, the platform having a front that is fixed to the rear portion of the frame and a rear that is a free end, wherein the free end of the platform is rearward of the rear portion of the frame; and
a battery mounted on the platform and operably connected with the motor.

2. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein the battery is nested under a backrest portion of the seat.

3. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rear wheels each comprise a caster wheel.

4. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises a base connected with the frame and an upwardly extending back, the base being at a lower elevation than a top of the front wheel.

5. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the front wheel is greater than the diameter of the first and second rear wheels.

6. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein the motor is operably connected with the front wheel by a drive chain.

7. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , further comprising a brake assembly that includes a brake lever mounted on a handlebar.

8. The motorized tricycle of claim 7 , wherein the brake assembly further comprises a brake disk on the front wheel and a pair of opposing calipers configured to apply frictional force on the brake disk.

9. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , further comprising a first handlebar directly connected to the first support and a second handlebar directly connected to the second support.

10. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein, from a top plan view, the front portion, first leg, and second leg collectively form a T shape.

11. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein the foot rest comprises a first leg and a second leg, each of the first and second legs of the foot rest terminating in a respective free end.

12. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein the tricycle is configured such that the front fork can be rotated without rotating the foot rest.

13. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 , wherein:
the first support comprises a first handgrip and a throttle assembly; and
the second support comprises a second handgrip and a brake lever.

14. The motorized tricycle of claim 13 , wherein the throttle assembly comprises a twistable throttle.

15. A motorized tricycle comprising:
a frame comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the motorized tricycle, the rear portion comprising a first leg and a second leg, each of the first and second legs extending outward from the longitudinal axis, wherein from a top plan view the front portion, first leg, and second leg collectively form a T shape;
a seat connected with the frame, the seat adjacent to an intersection of the first and second legs;
a front fork assembly connected with the frame, the front fork assembly comprising a first handgrip, a second handgrip, a first support, a second support, and a front wheel having an axis of rotation, the front wheel being positioned between the first and second supports;
a first rear wheel connected with the first leg and a second rear wheel connected with the second leg, each of the first and second rear wheels configured to rotate; and
a motor operably configured to drive the front wheel, the motor having a front-most edge that is rearward of the axis of rotation of the front wheel, the motor positioned between the first and second supports and forward of the first and second handgrips such that a line intersecting the first and second supports also intersects the motor.

16. The motorized tricycle of claim 15 , further comprising a battery that is mounted on the rear portion and is operably connected with the motor.

17. The motorized tricycle of claim 16 , wherein the battery is rearward of the seat.

18. The motorized tricycle of claim 15 , wherein the first and second rear wheels each comprise a caster wheel.

19. The motorized tricycle of claim 15 , wherein the seat comprises a base connected with the frame and an upwardly extending back, the base being at a lower elevation than a top of the front wheel.

20. The motorized tricycle of claim 15 , further comprising a brake assembly that includes a brake lever mounted on a handlebar.

21. The motorized tricycle of claim 20 , wherein the brake assembly further comprises a brake disk on the front wheel and a pair of opposing calipers configured to apply frictional force on the brake disk.

22. A motorized tricycle comprising:
a frame comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the motorized tricycle, the rear portion comprising a first leg and a second leg, each of the first and second legs extending outward from the longitudinal axis, wherein from a top plan view the front portion, first leg, and second leg collectively form a T shape;
a seat connected with the frame;
a front fork assembly connected with the frame, the front fork assembly comprising a first support, a second support, and a front wheel having an axis of rotation, the front wheel being positioned between the first and second supports;
a motor operably configured to drive the front wheel, the motor being positioned on the front fork assembly, the motor having a front-most edge that is rearward of the axis of rotation of the front wheel;
a foot rest portion fixedly coupled to the front fork assembly; and
a first rear wheel connected with the first leg and a second rear wheel connected with the second leg, each of the first and second rear wheels configured to rotate.

23. The motorized tricycle of claim 22 , wherein the first and second rear wheels each comprise a caster wheel.

24. The motorized tricycle of claim 22 , wherein the seat is adjacent to an intersection of the first and second legs.

Assignees

• Razor Usa Llc

Inventors

• Chen Robert
• Hadley Robert
• Griggs William

Classifications

• B62L3/02

  for control by a hand lever (hand levers for control of cycles in general B62K23/06) · CPC title

• B62K23/04

  Twist grips · CPC title

• B60B33/0068

  the swivel axis being vertical · CPC title

• B60L50/60 Primary

  using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) · CPC title

• B60L50/66

  Arrangements of batteries · CPC title